This Bible Study was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite.

There is a great need today to study eschatology (the
doctrine of future things) as God's Word unfolds before our very eyes.
There are many Christians today who know very little about God's plans
for the here-and-now, and they know even less about God's plans for
their future. Since I became involved with the Southern Baptists in
1984, I can honestly say that cannot not remember the last time I have
heard a preacher (except myself) who has delivered a message on things
like the rapture, millennium, and the new heaven and earth. Whenever
I questioned my pastors on their views about these things, I usually
got some sort of answer like, "I believe that Jesus is coming back,
but when that is (when talking about their millennial view) I do not
know." In two churches I have asked people if they believed in the rapture,
and to my surprise I received blank stares not knowing what I was talking
about. So there is a great need to study eschatology today to train-up
disciples with an understanding of God's plans for us and the world.

WHY STUDY ESCHATOLOGY?

The Scriptures give several reasons why the study of
eschatology is profitable for us. First of all it is for the purity
in the believer's life (1 John 3:3). It comforts
the believer in their time of bereavement (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18). Thirdly, the study of eschatology gives us a divine
viewpoint in our outlook (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
And finally, study produces motivation for the believer's faithful service
(2 Timothy 4:7-8).

BASIC BELIEFS ABOUT GOD'S FUTURE
PLANS

There are basically three major theological positions
in regard to future things: postmillenialism, amilleniallism, and premillenialism.

Postmillenialism.
This view took theological shape with the teachings of Daniel Whitby
(1638-1726). This view teaches that the church will usher in a thousand
years of peace and righteousness as Christ rules and reigns in the hearts
of men. Christ's return would be after (post-) that 1000 years
(millennium) of "heaven on earth." This view was widely held
before World War I but the occurrence of two major wars and several
major conflicts, and the rising spread of evil have brought this view
into disrepute. Postmillenialism gave rise to the "social gospel" which
was preached because postmillenniarians see their mission as bringing
about the kingdom on earth. 2

Amillennialism.
This view is that there is no (a-) 1000 year (millennium)
reign of Christ on earth. Amillennialists take the reference to a 1000
years in Revelation 20:3-4 as being symbolic
for a complete period of time. Christ will return at some point and
will judge humanity and the eternal state will begin. This position
spiritualizes the prophecies of the Old and New Testament and sees them
being fulfilled spiritually in the time between Christ's first coming
and His second coming. There dangers of using this method of interpretation
(as admitted by amillenarians): The fist is when you spiritualize Scriptures
you are interpreting Scripture by a method which would be utterly destructive
to Christian doctrine. The second danger is they do no follow the same
method in relation to prophecy in general, but only where it is necessary
to deny premillennialism. The third problem is they justify the spiritualizing
method as a means of eliminating problems of fulfillment of prophecy
(its born of necessity rather than a natural product of exegesis). The
forth problem is they do not hesitate to use spiritualization in areas
other than prophecy if it is necessary to sustain their doctrine. The
fifth problem with the amillennial method of interpretation is it has
been proved by history that the principle of spiritualization spread
easily into all basic areas of theological truth (Christ's birth to
resurrection, and coming again can be spiritualized). The sixth problem
is that the amillennial method does not provide a solid basis for consistent
system of theology. And finally, amillennialism has not arisen historically
from a study of prophetic Scripture, but rather through its neglect.
3

Premillennialism.
This view sees Christ as returning at some point before (pre-)
the 1000 year (millennium) reign and establishing His kingdom.
At the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ there will be judgement
and the eternal state. This position understands the Old and New Testament
prophecies to be literal. As a result there will be a 1000 year reign
of Christ on earth.

Dr. Ryrie summarizes the premillennial position as follows:

"Holding to a literal
interpretation of the Scriptures, they believe that the promises made
to Abraham and David are unconditional and have had or will have a literal
fulfillment. In no sense have these promises made to Israel been abrogated
or fulfilled by the Church, which is a distinct body in this age having
promises and a destiny different from Israel's. At the close of this
age, premillennialists believe that Christ will return for His Church
meeting her in the air (this is not the Second Coming of Christ), which
event, called the rapture or translation, will usher in a seven-year
period of tribulation on the earth. After this, the Lord will return
to the earth (this is the Second Coming of Christ) to establish His
kingdom on the earth for a thousand years during which time the promises
to Israel will be fulfilled."2

Which View Is Best?
I believe the premillennial view of Christ's return is the preferred view
for the following reasons. First of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning
Christ's first coming were fulfilled literally. Here are a few examples:Isaiah
7:14 and Matthew 1:16, 23. These Scriptures deal with the virgin
birth. It was prophesied and then fulfilled exactly as it had been prophesied;Micah
5:2 and Matthew 2:6 show the prophecy and fulfillment with the
birthplace of the Messiah being in Bethlehem;Isaiah
11:1 and Luke 3:23, 32 show the fulfillment of the Messiah being
from the offspring of Jesse; and Isaiah 53:12 and
Matthew 27:23, show the fulfillment of Christ's death being among
transgressors. There are many other prophecies that were literally fulfilled
in Christ's first advent (some say 100's). If these Scriptures were so
precisely and literally fulfilled, then it makes sense that the prophecies
regarding Christ's Second Advent (Coming) must likewise be literally fulfilled.
Another reason that I believe in the premillennial view is that the unconditional
covenants to Abraham and David must be fulfilled by the Lord. Since God
is not a liar and His Word is truth (Numbers 23:19;
John 17:17) then He can be trusted to fulfill His Word. Historically,
we find that it wasn't until around the third century that the other millennial
views became popular, but the prior to this time the church held a premillennial
view. 1 The premillennnial view distinguishes between the church
and Israel. By drawing this distinction protects the interpreter from
"spiritualizing" prophecies that were made to Israel. Israel is not the
church and the church is not Israel (Romans 11:25-32).
5

GOD'S TIME TABLE

The premillennial scheme of future events is bases upon
three primary portions of Scriptures: Daniel 9,
Matthew 24, and Revelation 6-22. Daniel gives us the structure
for end times especially the time structure of the Tribulation. In verses
24 and 25, the angel Gabriel gives Daniel the prophetic outline
for Israel ("your people") and Jerusalem ("your holy city"),
and the time when the seventy weeks begins (when the decree was given
to rebuild Jerusalem - Nehemiah 2:1-8). Then
in verse 26, Daniel states the Messiah will
be cut off after the first 69 weeks, and Jerusalem would be destroyed
afterward. After the destruction of Jerusalem the final week begins
when the "prince who is to come" will make a covenant with Israel
for one week (7 years). It is in the middle of this week (3 1/2 years)
that he will commit the abomination of desolation. In the book
of Matthew,chapter 24 we get the chronology
of the ends times as given by Christ. These events are: many claim to
be Christ (vv.4-5); wars and rumors of wars
(vv.6-7a); famines (v.7b);
earthquakes (v.7c); persecutions and tribulation
(vv.9-14); signs in heavens (vv.27-29);
and Christ's return (v.30). And finally we
get the details of the tribulation period in the book
of Revelation, chapters 6 through
19.

KEY EVENTS

If we take a closer look at God's time table, we see
that there several key events that will unfold.

The Rapture.
Someone once told me that they didn't believe in the rapture because
the word does not appear in the Bible. He was only partly correct. 1
Thessalonians 4:16-17, tells us that when the trumpet of God
sounds the dead in Christ shall rise first and then those believers
that are alive will be "caught up" together with the Lord Jesus
in the clouds (also see1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).
The word "caught up" (Grk. harpazo) means to be jerked
away or raptured. 4 We get the word "rapture" from
the Latin Vulgate Bible that used the word "rapere" for "caught
up," and the English word "rapture" was taken from that.
7 So we do clearly see that the Scripture speaks of a believers
rapture. There are four primary views that are held by premillennialists
about the rapture. All of these views are concerned with the relation
of the rapture to the tribulation period. One view is the "posttribulation
view" which sees the rapture as occurring at the end of the seven year
tribulation period, as Christ returns to the earth at His second coming.
This view teaches that the church will go through the tribulation and
will be translated at the end of it. Another view is the "midtribulation
view" which believes that the church will go through half but not all
of the tribulation period. This view equates the last trumpet in 1
Corinthians 15:52 with the 7th trumpet of Revelation
11:15. There also the "partial rapture view" that teaches that
only the faithful Christians at the time of the rapture will be taken
(this view is not widely held). This view is based on passages like
Hebrews 9:28 which encourage watchfulness
on the part of Christians. Finally, there is the "pretribulation view"
which is the most widely held view among premillennarians. This teaches
that before the tribulation period begins Christ will return for His
church, translates them, and they will be caught up to be with the Lord.
Support of this view is found in several Scriptures. In 1
Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9, we see that believers are delivered
from the coming wrath (Revelation 6:17).
Also in2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, points to
a pretribulation rapture with the removal of the Holy Spirit (the restrainer).
God' s pattern in the past has always been to deliver believers from
preannounced judgment (Genesis 6:7-8, 13; 19:12-13).
Finally, the church is never mentioned in any of the tribulation passages.
1

Rewards: After
the rapture or catching up of the believers, they will now give an account
(the Judgment Seat) to Christ of their activities while they lived upon
this earth. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 tells us
the every man's work is revealed of what type is was. If their work
was for the Lord they shall receive a reward, but if they did this work
for the wrong reason, then they shall not receive a reward. This time
period is not an judgment for salvation but only for those rewards which
have been earned by the Christian. This all takes place in heaven while
on earth the tribulation period is going on. 6

Tribulation Period.
This period corresponds to the 70th week of Daniel and is a seven year
period (Daniel 9:27). It is composed of two
parts containing three and one-half years each. One of the main purposes
of this period is to prepare Israel for her Messiah (who she had rejected
before at Christ's first appearing). Israel will accept the Messiah
at His Second Coming (advent) and thus "all of Israel will be saved"
(Romans 11:25-27; Zechariah 12:10). The tribulation
is also called the "time of Jacob's distress" (Jeremiah
30:7-9). It will be a time when God's wrath will be poured out
on unbelieving Jews and Gentiles alike (Revelation
6:16). Gentiles nations play a significant role in the tribulation
because they are the objects of wrath and because the "beast" arises
from them (Revelation 7:19, 14; 13:1; Daniel 7:8;
8:27; Matthew 24:15). During this time the "beast" will institute
a system that will make it necessary to have "his mark" in order to
buy or sell goods (666 - Revelation 13:16-18).
The "beast," the false prophet (Revelation 13:11)
and Satan make up the "unholy trinity" of the tribulation. The Gentile
nations will be aligned into four primary political power blocks during
the tribulation (ten nation European confederacy; the Far Eastern coalition;
Northern confederacy or Russian coalition; and the king of the South).
The events in Revelation 6:1-19:21 are the
details of this seven year period of time. During this time there will
be seven seal judgment (Revelation 6:1-21)
which will begin at the first of the tribulation and goes through the
entire seven years. There will be seven trumpet judgments which begin
at about the middle of the tribulation and will continue to the close
of the period (Revelation 8:7-11:19). And
there will be seven bowl judgments which begin during the last part
of the tribulation and continue to the end (Revelation
16:1-21).1

THE SECOND COMING

Christ's second advent initiates the millennial reign
of Christ which is followed by the eternal states. This is the promised
Kingdom Dispensation talked about in the Old Testament in which the
Jewish promises made to Israel concerning an earthly, historic glory
with the King reigning in splendor. 4 It is at the second
advent that several things happen. The battle of Armageddon will be
fought (Revelation 19:17-21) and Christ will
be the victor. The "battle" of Armageddon is actually a campaign
which lasts for the final half of the tribulation period. It will be
finished in the last great battle when Christ returns with the saints
and defeats the armies of the earth. The resurrection of Old Testament
saints and the saints who died in the tribulation period will occur
at the time of Christ's second advent (this is called the first resurrection
or the resurrection of the "Just" - Daniel 12:2;
Revelation 20:6; Luke 14:13-14). Israel will be regathered as
a nation at this time (Matthew 24:31; Amos 9:14-15)
and all the elect Israelites will be saved at the second advent (Romans
11:25; Zechariah 12:10). After Israel's regathering, they will
be judged (Ezekiel 20:33-44). The unbelieving
Israelites will be destroyed (physically - Matthew
25:30), and will be resurrected at the end of the millennium
for the great white throne judgment (Revelation
20:11-15). The believing Israelites will be a part of the ones
who populate the millennial kingdom. Also during the second advent the
Gentiles will be judged (Matthew 25:31-46; Joel
3:1-2, 13) on the basis of their treatment of believing Israel
which reveals their attitude toward the Messiah. 1

THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM

The millennial kingdom begins at Christ's second advent
and continues for a 1000 years where Jesus Christ the Messiah rules
over all the earth. At the beginning Satan will be bound for the 1000
year period so as not to deceive the nations (Revelation
20:2-3). During the millennium Satan will be totally inactive,
but at the end of the period he will be freed for a short time (Revelation
20:7-9) and will deceive some. He will lead a revolt against
Christ in which Christ will be victorious and Satan will be cast into
the lake of fire. 6 The millennium will be a time of great
change socially, physically, and economically. It will be a time when
all men will be saved (Isaiah 11:9). The
millennial period begins with all saved individuals (Jews and Gentiles)
inhabiting the earth. As their children are born they will, for the
most part, trust Christ as Savior. The ones who don't will be deceived
by Satan at the end of the millennium. The curse on the earth that was
instituted after the fall will be partially lifted during the millennium
(Isaiah 30:23-24; 35:1-2), and there will
be topography changes such as the Mount of Olives will split to the
north and the south when Christ returned (Zechariah
14:3-4), and Jerusalem will be exalted (Zechariah
14:10). The millennium will be a time of general prosperity such
as never been seen before (Jeremiah 31:12; Ezekiel
34:25-27), and a time of health and healing (Isaiah
33:24; 29:18). Also during the millennium there will be the reinstitution
of the sacrificial system (Ezekiel 40-48)
that will be a "memorial" system which will remind the believers
of the work of Christ on their behalf. This sacrificial system will
have much of the same significance that the Lord's Supper has had in
the church age. The millennial kingdom closes with the battle of Gog
and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9) which Satan
leads as a revolt against Christ. This rebellion is supernaturally defeated.
At this point Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation
20:10). 2 This lake of fire, also know as the eternal
fire was not originally made for unbelievers but it will become their
final destination as they join Satan and his fallen angels (Matthew
25:41). 4 The millennial kingdom closes with the Great
White Throne Judgment, which is the judgment of all unbelievers of all
ages (Revelation 20:11-15) will be for all
unbelievers are judged and cast into the lake of fire. These unbelievers
will be resurrected to stand before the Lord and each person will receive
justice to determine his degree of punishment (everyone will receive
perfect judgement by Christ - John 5:22-23, 27).
5

THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH

Following the millennium, the eternal state ensues. The
Scriptures describe the beginning of eternity with a New Heaven and
a New Earth. The old heaven and earth will be destroyed (Revelation
21:1; 2 Peter 3:10-13). It is here on the new earth that the
believes of all the times will live and serve the Lord for all eternity.
We will all have new eternal bodies (Daniel 12:2;
1 Corinthians 15:53) that are forever free from sin. We will
have a eternal relationship with the God and Father and the Son (Revelation
22:5), and there will be no more crying or pain (Revelation
21:4). This is a new beginning for man and we will be called
the sons of God, seeing Christ face to face (Revelation
21:5, 7; 22:4). 4

CONCLUSION

By no means does this paper give all the facts and nor
does it try too. But what I have attempted to do was to give a brief
outline of the future of mankind, Satan, and God's plan for us in the
future. The study of eschatology can be rewarding because of the glimpse
of hope that we see in our future with the Lord, but it should also
be a motivating factor in that we know the destruction that others will
face without Christ. We (Christians), above all people should see the
great need to share the gospel to a lost and dying world....for we have
read the end of the book!